Attachment for electric clipper



g- 196 R. c. GREEN 3,334,416

ATTACHMENT FOR ELECTRIC CLIPPER Filed July 1, 1965 I6 7 INVENTOR.

6 RUDOLPH c. GREEN Mad/w ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,334,416 ATTACHMENT FOR ELECTRIC CLIPPER Rudolph C. Green, Highway 71 S., Springdale, Ark. 72764 Filed July 1, 1965, Ser. No. 468,820 Claims. (Cl. 30-200) This invention relates to a clipper comb and more particularly to such a carnb adapted to be quickly attached and detached from a conventional electrical hair clipper.

The principal objects of the present invention are: to provide a clipper comb of simple construction which is readily attachedand detached from the clipper; to provide such a comb which may be used on all standard or conventional clippers; to provide such a comb structure which securely maintains the comb teeth in proper position on the clipper and resists relative motion in all directions with respect thereto; to provide such a comb construction wherein the gripping member is adapted to draw the surface of the comb body against the under surface of the clipper stationary blade; and to provide such a comb attachment structure which is rugged and longlived in use.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein are set forth by way of illustration and example certain embodiments of this invention.

'FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a comb attachment embodying this invention, illustrating the fixed and movable parts thereof.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary side elevation of the comb attachment engaged with a typical hair clipper with portions broken away to show cooperating parts therein.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary rear elevation showing the comb attachment mounted on the clipper.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the clipper comb grip member shown disassembled.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the grip member re tainer plate shown disassembled.

Referring to the drawings in more detail:

The reference numeral 1 generally indicates a comb attachment for an electric hair clipper 2. The attachment 1 comprises a comb member 3 including a synthetic plastic resin body 4 having side edges 5 and 6, a rear edge 7 and a front edge 8. The body 4 has an upper surface 9 shaped to generally conform to the under side 10 'of the fixed clipper blade 11 of the clipper 2. Integral comb teeth 12 are laterally spaced apart and extend forwardly parallel to each other from the front edge 8.

The upper surface 9 of the body 4 has raised elongated stop portions 13 and 14 extending upwardly therefrom adjacent the side edges 5 and 6 for contacting and spacing the blade 11 from the central part of the surface 9. The surface 9 also has elongated flanges 15 and 16 positioned adjacent and outwardly of the respective stop portions 13 and 14 and extending above the respective stop portions for engaging the side. edges 17 and 18 of the fixed clipper blade 11 to prevent lateral movement of the comb member 3 when positioned on the clipper.

The'teeth12 have raised portions 19 forming rearwardly open notches20 spaced forwardly of the surface 9 for engaging with the forward extremity 21 of the fixed blade 11. j

A central groove 22 is formed in the surface 9 and a pair of intermediate-grooves 23 and'24 are formed in the surface 9 and spaced apart on each side of the central groove 22. The grooves 22, 23 and 24 extend parallel to the side edges 5 and 6 and open rearwardly of the body 4 at the rear edge 7. For reasons noted below the central groove 22 is deeper than the intermediate grooves 23 and 24.

A depressed portion 25 extends into the surface 9 and has a depth substantially equal to the depth of the intermediate grooves 23 and 24. The depressed portion 25 is bounded by a forward transverse abutment 26 extending adjacent the front edge 8, outer wall extensions 27 and 28 of the intermediate grooves 23 and 24, and a central transverse abutment 29 extending parallel to the forward abutment 26 approximately in the center of the body 4. Due to the increased depth of the central groove 22, this groove extends along the bottom surface of the depressed portion 25, bisecting same.

A grip member 30 is generally of U-shape and has parallel elongated legs 31 and 32 longitudinally slidably received in the respective intermediate grooves 23 and 24. The legs 31 and 32 have a forward portion 33 extending forwardly int-o the depressed portion 25 and a rear portion 34 extending rearwardly past the rear edge 7. The grip member 30 has a transverse section 35 joining legs 31 and 32 located in the depressed portion 25. The leg rear portions 31 and 32 curve first downwardly at 36 and then upwardly at 37 to a position located above the upper surface 9 and coinciding with the top surface 38 of the clipper blade 11. The portions 31 then extend forwardly terminating in points 39 and 40 forming a hook for engaging the rear upper surface of the blade 11. The legs 31 and 32 are slightly bent downwardly at an intermediate portion 41 for reasons noted below.

An elongated helical compression spring 42 is located in the central groove 22 and has a forward end 43 engaging the grip member transverse section 35 approximately in the center thereof for urging the grip member forwardly of the body 4. A retainer plate 44 in the illustrated example is made of transparent plastic resin, however, other materials such as sheet metal may also be used therefor. The retainer plate 44 is secured to the surface 9 by a suitable adhesive at 45, although other fastening means such as rivets may be used if desired. The retainer plate 44 covers the grooves 22, 23 and 24 and the depressed portion 25 and has a tail portion 46 extending rearwardly and downwardly over the body rear edge 7 for covering the central groove 22 at the rear openings thereof. The compression spring 42 at the forward portion thereof is guided by the deeper groove 22 in the depressed portion 25, the legs 31 and 32 being substantially rigid and therefore not requiring additional guiding support in the de pressed portion 25. The spring 42 has a rear end 47 engaging the tail portion 46 whereby the spring is maintained under compression for continuously urging the grip member 30 forwardly.

The forward and central transverse abutments 26 and 29 form stop surfaces to limit the reciprocal travel of the grip member 30 with respect to the body. When the grip member 30 is moved rearwardly to the point where the transverse section 35 contacts the central abutment 29, the curved portions at 41 are located at the rear edge 7 of the body 4, which permits the points 39 to rise upwardly with respect to the body so as to more easily engage the rear of the blade 11 when securing the attachment 1 to the clipper. The curve at 36 in the leg rear portions helps provide easy access for engaging the points 39 and 40 on the blade 16.

In operation, when securing the attachment to the clipper, it is only necessary to grip the body and insert the points 39 and 40 over the rear upper edge of the blade 16 and pull the body toward the front of the clipper until the forward extremity 21 of the clipper blade 11 clears the raised portions 19. This is facilitated by the upward movement of the points 39 and 40 with respect to the body 4 due to the curvature at 41 in the grip member legs 31 and 32. The forward extremity 21 is then aligned at the forward portion 33 thereof and with the notches 20 and the attachment is released whereupon the compression spring 42 draws the notches 20 over the extremities 21 securing the attachment in place. The curvature in the legs 31 and 32 forces the points 39 and 40 downwardly with respect to the body as the grip member is drawn into the depressed portion 25, which causes the upper surface 9 to be pulled toward the under side 10 of the clipper blade 11 whereupon the under side 10 comes to rest against the stop portions 13 and 14. The flanges 15 and 16 extend upwardly past the under side 10 and engage the side edges of the clipper blade 11 preventing lateral movement of the attachment with respect to the clipper. The rear edge of the clipper blade 11 is curved, whereupon the force exerted forwardly by the hook portion of the legs 31 and 32 at 37 also tends to center the attachment and cooperate with the flanges 15 and 16 to prevent lateral play. There is no interference with the movable clipper blades 48.

Although one form of this invention has been illustrated and described, it is not to be limited thereto except insofar as such limitations are included in the claims.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A comb attachment for a hair clipper having a stationary blade with a forward extremity and a rear portion, said attachment comprising:

(a) a comb member including a body having side, front and rear edges and an upper surface, comb teeth projecting forwardly from said front edge, said teeth having raised portions forming rearwardly open notches spaced forwardly of said surface for engagement with the forward extremity of said blade,

(b) a first groove in said surface and a pair of second grooves in said surface, said second grooves being spaced apart on each side of said first groove, said first and second grooves extending generally parallel to said side edges and opening rearwardly of said body at said rear edge,

(c) a grip member generally of U-shape and having parallel elongated legs longitudinally slidably received in said second grooves, said legs each having a forward portion and a rear portion, said leg rear portions extending rearwardly past said rear edge, said grip member having a transverse section joining said legs at said leg forward portions and slidable adjacent said surface, said leg rear portions extending upwardly to a position above said surface and forwardly forming a hook for engaging the rear portion of said blade,

(d) an elongated helical compression spring in said first groove and having a forward end engaging said transverse section for urging said grip member for wardly, and means on said body for retaining said legs in said second grooves and extending across said first groove rear opening, said spring having a rear end engaging said means.

2. The structure as set forth in claim 1 wherein:

(a) said surface has a raised elongated stop portion extending upwardly therefrom adjacent each said side edges for contacting and spacing said fixed clipper blade from the central portion of said surface.

3. The structure as set forth in claim 1 wherein:

(a) said first groove is deeper than said second grooves,

and including,

(b) a depressed portion in said surface having a depth substantially equal to the depth of said second grooves and bounded by a forward transverse abutment extending adjacent said front edge and outer wall extensions of said second grooves and a central transverse abutment, said first groove extending along the bottom surface of said depressed portion,

((1) said transverse section being located in said depressed portion, said forward and central transverse 5 abutments forming stops to limit the reciprocal travel of said grip member with respect to said body.

4. The structure as set forth in claim 1 wherein:

(a) said grip member legs have intermediate bent portions therein permitting said hooks to rise upwardly with respect to said surface when said grip member is substantially fully extended rearwardly of said body.

5. A comb attachment for a hair clipper having a stationary blade with a forward extremity and a rear portion, 15 said attachment comprising:

(a) a comb member including a body having side, front and rear edges and an upper surface adapted to generally conform to the under side of said stationary blade, integral comb teeth projecting forwardly from said front edge, said teeth having raised portions forming rearwardly open notches spaced forwardly of said surface for engagement with the forward extremity of said blade,

(b) a central groove in said surface and a pair of intermediate grooves in said surface and spaced apart on each side of said central groove, said grooves extending parallel to said side edges and opening rearwardly of said body at said rear edge, said central groove being deeper than said intermediate groove,

(c) a depressed portion in said surface having a depth substantially equal to the depth of said intermediate grooves and bounded by a forward transverse abutment extending adjacent said front edge and outer wall extensions of said intermediate grooves and a central transverse abutment extending parallel to said forward transverse abutment, said central groove extending along the bottom surface of said depressed portion,

(d) a grip member generally of U-shape and having parallel elongated legs longitudinally slidably received in said intermediate grooves, said legs having a forward portion extending forwardly into said depressed portion and a rear portion extending rearwardly past said rear edge, said grip member having a transverse section joining said legs in said depressed portion, said leg rear portions forming a hook for engaging the rear portion of said blade,

(e) an elongated helical compression spring in said central groove and having a forward end engaging said grip member transverse section for urging said grip member forwardly, and a retainer plate secured to said surface and covering said grooves and said depressed portion, said retainer plate having a tail portion extending rearwardly and downwardly over said body rear edge and covering said central groove rear opening, said spring having a rear end engaging said tail portion,

(f) said forward and central transverse abutment forming stops to limit the reciprocal travel of said grip member with respect to said body.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 347,207 8/1886 Smith et al. 30-201 2,718,696 9/1955 Green 30-200 2,918,723 12/1959 Levin 30-200 1. C. PETERS, Assistant Examiner. WILLIAM FELDMAN, Primary Examiner, 

1. A COMB ATTACHMENT FOR A HAIR CLIPPER HAVING A STATIONARY BLADE WITH A FORWARD EXTREMITY AND REAR PORTION, SAID ATTACHMENT COMPRISING: (A) A COMB MEMBER INCLUDING A BODY HAVING SIDE, FRONT AND REAR EDGE AND AN UPPER SURFACE, COMB TEETH PROJECTING FORWARDLY FROM SAID FRONT EDGE, SAID TEETH HAVING RAISED PORTIONS FORMING REARWARDLY OPEN NOTCHES SPACED FORWARDLY OF SAID SURFACE FOR ENGAGEMENT WITH THE FORWARD EXTREMITY OF SAID BLADE, (B) A FIRST GROOVE IN SAID SURFACE AND A PAIR OF SECOND GROOVES IN SAID SURFACE, SAID SECOND GROOVES BEING SPACED APART ON EACH SIDE OF SAID FIRST GROOVE, SAID FIRST AND SECOND GROOVES EXTEDING GENERALLY PARALLEL TO SAID SIDE EDGES AND OPENING REARWARDLY OF SAID BODY AT SAID REAR EDGE, (C) A GRIP MEMBER GENERALLY OF U-SHAPE AND HAVING PARALLEL ELOGNATED LEGS LONGITUDINALLY SLIDABLY RECEIVED IN SAID SECOND GROOVES, SAID LEGS EACH HAVING A FORWARD PORTION AND REAR PORTION, SAID LEG REAR PORTION EXTENDING REARWARDLY PAST SAID REAR EDGE, SAID GRIP MEMBER HAVING A TRANSVERSE SECTION JOINING SAID LEGS AT SAID LEG FORWARD PORTIONS AND SLIDABLE ADJACENT SAID SURFACE, SAID LEG REAR PORTIONS EXTENDING UPWARDLY TO A POSITION ABOVE SAID SURFACE AND FORWARDLY FORMING A HOOK FOR ENGAGING THE REAR PORTION OF SAID BLADE, (D) AN ELONGATED HELICAL COMPRESSION SPRING IN SAID FIRST GROOVE AND HAVING A FORWARD END ENGAGING SAID TRANSVERSE SECTION FOR URGING SAID GRIP MEMBER FORWARDLY, AND MEANS ON SAID BODY FOR RETAINING SAID LEGS IN SAID SECOND GROOVES AND EXTENDING ACROSS SAID FIRST GROOVE REAR OPENING, SAID SPRING HAVING A REAR END ENGAGING SAID MEANS. 